Luke Wilson has signed on to play superhero Pat Dugan in upcoming TV comic book series Stargirl.

The actor will portray the mechanic-turned-superhero in the show, which will centre on a high school student who brings together a group of young heroes to fight villains.

Brec Bassinger will portray the titular character, aka Courteney Whitmore, on Stargirl, which is based on DC Comics characters created by Geoff Johns, who will also executive produce the series and write the pilot episode.

“When I first moved to Los Angeles in 1996 and saw (Wilson’s film) Bottle Rocket, I became a huge fan and admirer of Luke’s,” Johns says. “And I literally wrote this part for Luke, hoping that someday and somehow he’d play Pat Dugan. I only envisioned him. And now I feel like I won the lottery!”

“Luke’s talent, humour, compassion — his presence and professionalism — and his creative collaboration, his ideas — we’re so lucky to have him alongside Brec in Stargirl,” he adds.